Tips to Survive a Long Haul Flight

While it’s an awesome feeling to be flying high in the sky, long flights can get tiring too quickly. I travel at least four times a year back and forth from USA to Dubai to meet my family during vacations. However, I dread the flight part, since it takes up to 16 hours non-stop to get  across the globe. I usually travel by Emirates Airlines, but I’m pretty certain that the other Airlines also take about the same time, some even more, depending on the different routes.

It was only realistic enough for me to start thinking about traveling smart, so that the flights wouldn’t kill me. With years of personal experience and having taken loads of good suggestions, I’ve come up with a BOMB list of tips that could really help you survive a long haul flight:

• The Minimalistic Approach

It doesn’t help to pack heavy when you are travelling in a 20-hour flight solo. So pack only the things that you are absolutely sure you need at hands length in your carry on.

I usually take all my electronics and charging equipment, a book to read, my journal, a few Sudoku/Crossword puzzles, snacks and refreshment supplies in a bag pack. It helps to stay light, as shopping in Duty free or just getting around the airport also gets easier.

• Comfortably Factor

I can’t stress this enough, but if you don’t dress comfortably, it could be the deciding factor as to how good or bad your journey is going to be. By dressing comfortable, I mean, going in your trainers, wearing clothes you could easily fall asleep in, without make up or jewelry.

It really helps to buy a travel pillow, believe me, it’s an investment and makes your life so easy. I got mine for 9$ from a CVS store in NY an year ago, because I was about to ride the 6-hour long Greyhound bus to Washington DC. I use it to this day in all my travels. Getting a pair of handy flip-flops for the flight would be good, as it allows air circulation as opposed to trainers.

• Negotiating A Free Upgrade

Most of the times, flights aren’t even full, and the crew is generous enough to grant you an upgrade. This is an opportunity you must always avail- you owe it to yourself for the amount of money you put into buying those flight tickets!

All you got to do is ask- Either at the baggage check-in area, or in the flight itself. I’ve been upgraded to business class twice, once because I asked and there happened to be a spot, and the other, when my friends, who were minors, were traveling, and I claimed to be their accompanying adult. There are many ways to get around it, you just have to try your luck!

• Choosing Easy Seats

Think about it, 10 hours – 2 times you’d have to use the restroom; 20 hours – 4 times. Choose your seats closest to the back or front toilets! If they aren’t available, try getting Isle seats- it is easier not only to go to to the restroom, but also take frequent walks, or just ask for crew assistance.

• Making Connections

This is, I believe, the most productive way to pass time in a flight. Talking to strangers can be so much fun! Sometimes it’s just a one-time conversation, while other times, it can turn out to be a lifelong friendship! I met many bloggers, professors and friends who were either traveling solo or with their families and I learnt a lot about their travels and themselves.

I’ve also never hesitated to talk to the flight crew- it’s okay to do that, since they are paid to serve us through the journey; just kidding! I actually find being a crew member really cool and have thought of applying to become one for a little bit to be able to communicate with passengers in different languages and also travel around the world.

• Sleeping Your Way Through 

This one is my roommate’s favorite. She stays up 24 hours before her long flight back home and then sleeps like a log throughout her flight. I have never personally done that since getting food is so important and I’m just mostly restless in flights.

I believe though, that it must be so convenient to just wake up to the announcement – ‘the flight is about to land, kindly buckle up.’ It probably really helps ease jet lags too, since technically, you’ve been sleeping the entire time.

These are my few suggestions for you to pass time efficiently and use them to your advantage during flights. Of course, you can spend most of your time watching movies if you are a fanatic or listening to music and what not; but if you can incorporate any or all of the hacks above, you’d probably not get bored, tired or uncomfortable at all!

*All the pictures in this post are original and subject to claimed but not legal copyrights. The cameras I used to capture these pictures are my iPhone 7 and  Canon EOS 50D. For more information, contact me via email or leave your comments in the section below. Please feel free to provide feedback or just share your thoughts! 🙂

Until tomorrow,

Arushi Sachan

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TRAVEL W/ ARUSHI: Feb 26-Mar 4
•Sun, Feb 26th: Overview 
•Mon, Feb 27th: Being an International Student in the US
•Tues, Feb 28th: My 2017 Travel Bucket List 
•Wed, March 1st: Tips to survive a long haul flight 
•Thurs, March 2nd: Advantages of Traveling Solo ‍
•Fri, March 3rd: Budget Traveling Tips $